Ramblin Mike's Blog: Typical Day Of A Mower Driver . . .

Bein a mower driver isn't as exciting as one might think . . . For most of the summer I have been gettin up around 5:30 AM. That's about the same time I got up when I was workin the classrooms. The retirement hasn't improved the gettin up time. One of the first things I do is feed my cat, Patches T. Cat, then I check for any overnight eBay sales. I try to get eBay stuff in the mail the next day after receivin payment. After gettin dressed, etc. I stop at Main Stop for my daily mug of gas station coffee.

For 7 weeks during June and July I had to use the little Toro to mow the rough. The big Toro was havin major engine issues. Engine is fine so far.

As you can see, there is no canopy to shield the sun . . . and yes, this is what I was drivin during all those 90 + degree days. It only cuts a 6' swath and is just too small to mow the rough. I mowed 5 days each week and was about a day + of gettin everything mowed. The short wheelbase and small diameter tires helped every bump out there attack my body. I was usually very tired and 'cooked' at the end of the day and didn't venture out of my air conditioned house much. I had to work 5 day weeks instead of 3 1/2 day weeks. It is a good mower to trim around trees and the clubhouse areas. I really don't like drivin it much anymore. Take a good look at the seat . . . I think my butt print is permanently on it now . . .

This is an unflattering picture of the the rough mower stuck in the mud. It doesn't take to muddy, slippery conditions very well. Doesn't have 4 wheel drive or even posi-traction. Can be a 'white knuckle ride' on slopes near water . . . Takes me about 3 1/2 days to mow everything unless too many golfers get in my way. I like the 3 1/2 day work weeks. It cuts an 11' swath. I feel bumps, but nothing like on the little Toro.

One of the first things I do each morning is wipe the dew off the seat . . . it usually sits outside. For some reason, dew is more difficult to wipe off than rain drops. Fuel is next. Usually takes 9-10 gallons of diesel each morning. After that I check the oil, blow the dirt out of the radiator and I'm off.

It is usually fairly dark around 6:30 during August.

Some days there is a colorful sunrise . . . with or without the fog.

Here I am beginning to mow with fog here and there. During August and September, fog is quite common around here. I've had days that started sunny and by 8 AM, I can't see much further than a couple hundred feet.

Mowin into the sun isn't fun. Hard to see my tracks.

Gotta be ready for the sprinklers comin on. Like gettin hit by a fire hose . . . not that I have any firsthand knowledge of that, but they are a lot bigger than lawn sprinklers. During the day, someone might turn them on manually for a few minutes. One time the boss turned on a set, without seein me and I got clobbered. Claims he didn't see me, but I've never been sure about that . . .

Spotted this mom deer and her young 'un havin breakfast. Haven't seen many deer on the course this year, yet. But everyone knows they are around. There is at least one car-deer collision in the county nearly every day of the year.

I spend a lot of time goin back and forth . . . back and forth . . .

The golf course is built on a large u-shaped ravine. Some areas near the creek that winds through the ravine make for some steep mowin. This little spot is probably the steepest area I have to mow. The pic doesn't show the steepness. I have slid down this hill backwards, sideways and once I did a 180. Not near water, so I don't get too excited when I lose traction.

I like mowin in the 'dew'. Easy to see where I've been, especially in areas where the grass isn't very long. Dew is usually gone by 9:30.

Still goin back and forth . . . A few summers ago I took my trail gps with me a few days. I drove back and forth around 24 miles each time.

I usually eat around 11. The clubhouse is closed on Monday. When it open we get a good price on lunch. This is the service entrance we use to get to the kitchen.

No, they've never offered frog legs for lunch that I know about . . . Saw this frog sittin there one day and took his picture. Soon after that the radio played the Jerimiah Is A Bullfrog song . . . There are turtles and snakes around the creek and ponds.

Still lots of trees to mow around . . . even with all the dead Ash trees. Always brushin up against them. Especially disgusting when they are wet from the dew, rain or sprinklers. It is really disgusting when it is cold. It is double, really disgusting when pine needles work there way down my back and into my underwear . . . Think about it . . . Kinda ruins my day . . . And then there are the bugs. Some days I see some really strange lookin bugs crawlin around on me.

Gotta stop, get off the mower and move the benches and washers so I can mow. Most days I really don't feel like movin them . . .

But it never seems to bother me when I see a golf ball . . . I pick up at least one ball almost everyday . . .

Once in a while I come upon a hornet's nest. It doesn't take long for the hornets to build a nest!! The boss was sprayin this nest with a can of spray in each hand shortly after he was told about it. Wasp nests under the benches aren't fun either. Just this week, I grabbed one to move it and and my fingers crushed a nest. Fortunately it was an old, unoccupied nest. Getting stung probably would have jolted me out of my mowin induced daily mowin coma I seem to find myself in every day . . .